Lamp supporting clamp for vehicles and the like



June 12, 1951 c; c. DE VAUGHN LAMP SUPPORTING CLAMP FOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 10, 1947 Inventor Charles C. De Vaughn by W and Patented June 12, 1951 LAMP SUPPORTING OLAMP'FORVEHICLES AND THE LIKE Charles *CQDe Vaughn, Sharonville, Ohio Application March 10, 19 47, {Serial N0.733,'703

2 Claims. (01. 248-226) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lamp holding clamps for vehicles and the like and the primary feature of the present invention is to provide a clamping device that is quickly and readily attached to a vehicle, trailer or the like for supporting a small light commonly referred to as an emergency lamp.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide a device of the character referred to comprising a movable jaw that is connected to a stationary jaw by spring means whereby the jaws may be spread apart under tension to grip opposite sides of a fender or the like.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a clamping device supporting emergency lamps including a movable jaw having a pad on its inturned end to grip the fender or the like without in any way injuring the finish of the latter.

A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a device of the class described that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the lamp holding clamp applied to a vehicle fender;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the clamp;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of my improved clamp, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 5 represents an elongated fixed arm having its upper end turned outwardly to form a jaw 6 having its outer edge formed with serrations as at 1.

A pair of ears 8 extend outwardly from the sides of arm 5 and are adapted to overlie a pair of ears 9 extending outwardly from a movable arm Ill.

The respective pairs of ears are connected by a pin or the like I l for permitting pivotal move-, ment of arm 10 toward and away from fixed arm 5.

One end of member 5 is turned inwardly to form a jaw l2 having a protective preferably rubber pad l3 secured to its outer edge by usual fastening means 14 seated in recesses l5 in said pad so that the outer face of the pad will be smooth.

Said jaw I2 is adapted to be positioned below the jaw 6 of arm 5 and said jaw I2 is held against arm 5 by a usual substantiall U-shaped wire spring [6 that bears inwardly against the upper end of arm 5 and is looped inwardly around pin it as at lea to provide tension coils for the spring and said spring having its ends [1 bearing against the lower portion of arm I0 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The lower end of arm 50 is curved outwardly as at IS away from arm 5 to permit said lower end to bear against the lower end of arm 5 so that the jaw I2 and pad [3 are spaced from arm 5 as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3.

Openings l9 are suitably placed in arm It! to receive fastening means by which a conventional emergency lamp or the like 20 is supported to the arm l0.

In operation of the device it is merely necessary to bring the lower ends of arms 5 and I 0 together to provide a space between arm 5 and jaw 12 between which a fender 2| extends. The arm ill is then released and spring [6 causes the jaws 6 and i2 to bear inwardly against the fender to conveniently support a lamp as shown in Figure 1.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lamp supporting clamp of the class described comprising an elongated fixed arm having a jaw laterally formed at its upper end, gripping serrations formed on the outer edge of the jaw, a movable jaw pivotall secured to the fixed jaw intermediate its ends and having a lateral jaw formed on its upper end and positioned below the jaw on the fixed arm, a protective pad formed on the outer edge of the second named jaw, spring pressure means connecting said arms and normally holding the second named jaw against the fixed arm, said jaws being adapted to bear inwardly and grip upon opposite sides of a supporting structure, and means formed with one of the arms for receiving a lamp supporting bracket.

2. A lamp supporting clamp for detachably securing a lamp to the fender of a vehicle comprising a pair of complementary arms pivotally connected together intermediate their ends with their inner surfaces in spaced face to face relationship, one of said arms being shorter than the other and having a lateral inwardly extending padded jaw formed on its upper end, a lateral jaw formed on the upper end of the other arm and overlying the first-named jaw, gripping serrations formed on the outer edge of the lastnamed jaw, spring pressure means connecting said arms and normally holding the jaws against i the inner and outer surfaces of a fenderand means for attaching a lamp to one of said arms.

CHARLES C. DE VAUGHN;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 392,466 Shurtleff Nov. 6, 1888 665,140 Shonnard Jan. 1, 1901 722,349 Young Mar. 10, 1903 743,646 Kirschbaum Nov. 10, 1903 1,070,292 Robb Aug. 12, 1913 1,479,739 Radtke Jan. 1, 1924 1,684,347 Dobbs Sept. 11, 1928 1,777,003 Kollath Sept. 30, 1930 

